Bye and Bye, The Circle may be Broken

As most residents in NOVA are aware, VDOT is very close to imposing HOT lanes on Shirlington Circle. We think a majority of those citizens closer in (i.e. Arlingtonians and Alexandrians) feel that we are paying the price of those who CHOOSE to live in places like Woodbridge and Stafford. Those who live around the circle will receive NO compensation for the potential side-effects of the 5 year construction plan (i.e. declining property values, inability to rent).

Traffic on the Circle is really only busy 1 hour day in peak times, at most two. Is it really worth 5 years of construction?

Here are some other questions to ponder:

1. Should those who choose to live closer in and knowingly trade off house size, yard, etc...for shorter commute pay the price for those who live in urban sprawl?

2. VDOT would receive $195 Million from FLUOR and Transurban, the international construction firms promoting the hot-lanes. What type of oversight/audit will be conducted throughout the process?

3. Why aren't the towns who produce the commuters paying a tax specifically for these road improvements (i.e. similar to Metro to Dulles)?

4. What are the positions of our local Congressmen and highest public officials (Sens. Webb and Warner, Congresmen Moran, Connonlly, and Wolf, Gov. Candidates Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnall)?

Let's keep up the civic engagement and public dialogue to make sure that NOVA is making the right choice!